Čáslav

The royal town of Čáslav, known as the gateway to the Iron Mountains, was founded in the mid-13th century by Přemysl Otakar II. It is thus one of the oldest Czech towns, and the preserved continuous belt of the town fortifications with 15 bastions and the Gothic cylindrical Otakar Tower is worth seeing. The dominant feature of Čáslav is the Church of St. Peter and Paul, which is based on the Romanesque church of St. Michael. In 1421, the important Congress of Čáslav was held here. Čáslav is also associated with Jan Žižka of Trocnov, whose name is borne by the square, one of the largest in the Czech Republic with an area of about 20,000 m². In the park near the square, there is a monument to Jan Žižka by Josef Václav Myslbek. In the Žižka Hall of the Čáslav Town Hall, you can see the skull of Jan Žižka, discovered in 1910 in a walled niche of the church.

Čáslav has one of the oldest museums, housed in a Neo-Renaissance building built in 1884 specifically for museum purposes. The Dusík Theatre from 1869, a national cultural monument, is an attraction for lovers of theatre, fine arts, and beautiful architecture. Čáslav also has a synagogue in the Moorish Art Nouveau style by Wilhelm Stiassny. In addition to historical monuments, Čáslav is a popular destination for lovers of old technology and families with children because of the Museum of Agricultural Technology, which exhibits old tractors, steam ploughs, threshers, and dozens of other historic agricultural machines. The museum also hosts numerous annual events where you can see period exhibits in operation.

The careers of many outstanding athletes are linked to Čáslav and especially to the local athletics stadium. The world champion in the 800 m race, Jarmila Kratochvílová (* 1951 in Golčov Jeníkov), and her trainee Ludmila Formanová (* 1974 in Žleby) trained here. Jarmila Kratochvílová still holds the 800 m world record of 1:53.28 minutes, set on 26 July 1983 in Munich. This is the longest-standing world record in official events in athletics history.

Čáslav’s native is the world-famous director Miloš Forman, who won 13 prestigious Oscars for the films *One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest* and *Amadeus*. His brother, graphic artist and painter Pavel Forman, has also won recognition. Brigadier General František Moravec, who directed the Anthropoid operation, also came from Čáslav. Other famous natives include the internationally successful stage designer Josef Svoboda, the composer Jan Ladislav Dusík, and the writer, poet, and journalist Rudolf Těsnohlídek.

What to do in Čáslav in bad weather?

In the Čáslav Gallery, you can see the permanent exhibition of the painter J. Prucha, the sculptor B. Borovičková-Podpěrová, the musician and composer J. L. Dusík, and the stage designer J. Svoboda. Čáslav Municipal Spa offers relaxation and sports, and the ice rink provides sports entertainment for the whole family.

Source: https://www.kudyznudy.cz/kam-pojedete/stredocesky-kraj/kutnohorsko-kolinsko/caslav